To start this story, you need to think back to July 23, 2024. That day, Matvei Michkov touched down in North America. Philadelphia Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones and GM Danny Briere went to pick the 19-year-old up from the airport. Briere was carrying his sticks. All three were all smiles. Michkov met the media the next day.
That was the true start of the saga that has become the central talking point of the Flyers’ franchise. Michkov’s rookie season was impressive, 26 goals and 63 points in 80 games with John Tortorella behind the bench, a language barrier, partially while going through his final days as a teenager.
This season, there’s a new coach behind the bench, and the sophomore slump has hit hard for the now 21-year-old.
Let’s start here: Michkov did himself no favors in the offseason. He admitted he came into camp out of shape. And while that was five months ago, a condensed schedule on the road to the Olympic break has made it challenging for Michkov to truly catch up. He’s improved, but not to the standout level as last season.
What Michkov needs is simply the clean slate of a new season. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but one that should benefit him moving forward.
Down season or not, out of shape or in pristine physical condition, Michkov’s importance to the Flyers’ rebuild cannot be overstated. Everyone involved has to know that. It’s why Briere was in front of the media on Tuesday night before the Flyers’ 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals, to clear the air about everything surrounding Michkov. It was to put out the fire that had gasoline poured all over it in the previous 72 hours.
The entire season has been a saga surrounding Michkov. Again, he did himself no favors. But Rick Tocchet didn’t help with how he was using Michkov, whether on his off-wing, with what power-play unit he was on, with situational ice time. But the team was winning, and even if the fans were always questioning these things, the organization likely didn’t see it as a problem, more part of the process.
But losing, that breeds frustration. The Flyers lost for the 11th time in 13 games on Saturday against the Kings. Michkov had played just 10:21, his lowest ice time of the season. The next day, Tocchet repeated himself about “players missing treatments” and about Michkov’s usage while making the rounds on the media circuit during the Flyers Charities Carnival.
All of that reached the point where Briere had to address it. He shouldn’t have needed to do this. But it was important for the general manager to get out in front of this saga.
Because Michkov means that much to the future of the organization.
So Briere spoke, for a little more than 10 minutes total, but for over five minutes before taking any questions. He addressed the recent losing. But primarily, he was there to put out a fire.
Matvei Michkov isn’t going anywhere. Rick Tocchet isn’t going anywhere. And the Flyers need to make this work.
And while Briere was the one more publicly putting out the fire, there were signs that internally the message was received by all involved. Michkov made a great play on the Flyers’ first goal of the game. Tocchet praised Michkov in an on-air interview during the first period. Michkov’s line started the game. Michkov had more ice time through two periods on Tuesday than he did all of Saturday.
It was the first step to salvaging what is left of this season. The Flyers can continue down this path on Thursday, when they play their final game before the Olympic break. Michkov can use the near three-week break to his advantage, trying to make up as much ground as possible physically. And when everyone returns, they can put an emphasis on continuing to foster this relationship and help Michkov be the best player he can be now and in the future.
They have to. Fans are already on edge watching this play out. They watched a Top-5 pick get traded before he ever put on a Flyers jersey two seasons ago. They don’t want history to repeat itself.
And the Flyers shouldn’t either, because it would be the ultimate gaslighting. Michkov’s role in the rebuild was built up from the beginning. And the Flyers leaned into it. Sending the top two executives to pick him up from the airport? Holding a big press conference in what is typically the dead of the offseason? The Flyers can’t go from that to the end this early, if at all.
Trust is already fragile. Anything beyond making this work would have the potential to permanently fracture what trust is left.
That’s what made Briere’s presser so important. Even if everything said was expected. Even if it looked like something Briere didn’t really want to do. It had to be done, to take back some control of the narrative if nothing else.
Michkov is too important to this process for the Flyers not to take those actions. On Tuesday, the Flyers did what ultimately needed to be done. And they must remain dedicated to that for as long as this process takes. It’s too important not too, and that can’t be overstated.
Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.
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